Astros Select Carlos Correa First Overall

The Astros have officially drafted high school shortstop Carlos Correa with the first overall selection in the 2012 draft. Stanford right-hander Mark Appel and others also appeared to be on Houston's radar, but the team's decision makers ultimately went with Correa, who becomes the first Puerto Rican to be selected first overall. Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio reports that new GM Jeff Luhnow called the Correa selection a last-minute decision (Twitter link).

This marks the first selection under Luhnow, who was hired after Jim Crane bought the club last offseason. Scouting director and assistant GM Bobby Heck joined the Astros as their director of amateur scouting following the 2007 season.

The Astros have selected first overall on two other occasions. They selected Phil Nevin over Derek Jeter and others in 1992 and chose Floyd Bannister from a class featuring Alan Trammell in 1976.

Stros not sure can afford a long shot is the issue. They might have been much better off with someone a bit more mature (older) and also a power pitcher that is also something that system dearly needs.

Also surprised the Twins let him slide by as well as there pitching is as brutal as the Astros.. leading me to wonder if his asking price may be a bit high perhaps..

I did hear an A-Rod comp but it was a comparison of swing mechanics, nobody is actually projecting him to ever hit 50 home runs, and his bat isn’t really comparable to Harper’s (not many are). I think the best comparison I’ve heard for him is Manny Machado.

Very typical of Astros owners across the board putting dollars ahead of talent & need. I feel bad for Astros fans because they just lost out on a potential ace just to save a buck. Could be a world class SS, but when you desperately need to develop young pitching…

I mean, yes, Correa is probably going to be a good player. But he’s a major-league ‘stud’ as much as ‘the Astros are taking Appel first overall’. Nothing is certain in the draft.

And it was a money decision, Appel is represented by Boras and the Astros knew that they could not afford to either not sign their first overall pick or to have a penalty on their future drafts by overpaying. Correa is the safer pick, but the Astros desperately needed immediate pitching help, and they missed that opportunity (perhaps for the better of the organization overall though)

Correa isn’t any less certain than Appel is. Money may have played a part in it, but whether it was part of the decision or not it is likely the reason they were able to take McCullers later in the round.

I don’t think a 17 year old shortstop would be labeled as a ‘safer pick’ than an older, more polished college pitcher.

I don’t doubt the talent of Appel, but I am excited with the pick of Correa. If you’ve followed the Astros at all you know of their offensive blackhole known as shortstop (yes, I know Correa may slide over to 3b)

I do agree, that it may now be a bit of a financial decision, but if Houston gets to sign both he and McCullers, this was a brilliant move in my opinion.

What I meant is that Appel is represented by Boras. Boras is likely to demand an awful lot of money, a lot more than Correa’s agent (since Correa isn’t very committed to a college [his ‘commitment’ is Miami]).

Correa is the ‘safer pick’ because if the Astros don’t sign their top pick and first overall, their draft is immediately seen as a failure. Furthermore, if they spent too much trying to sign Appel, they would either face losing draft picks in the years from now OR not sign a few picks in the later rounds (6-10).

The drafting of McCullers was likely a move to get another high level talent like Correa, at a cheaper price. If they draft Appel, they likely can’t afford two top-tier talents like McCullers and Correa

Exactly. And Correa / McCullers is more valuable than Appel / generic 41st pick (not to mention it now looks like Correa will save Houston enough to also ink Ruiz, who is significantly better than your average fourth round pick).

Anyone saying the Astros are dumb for not taking Appel can say the same for MIN, SEA and BAL. All these teams passed on Appel. Good pick on Correa. Anyone compared to A-Rod or Tulo is good enough for me. Great day for Houston baseball!

Love how people are hating on a short stop who had been compaired to Hanley Ramirez and arod. That’s a potentially franchise changing type player. Yes they didn’t draft a potential ace power pitcher but neither did what ten teams.

They wouldn’t have gotten one if they drafted Appel. He’s a #2-#3 type. Maybe #1 if he develops. Definitely a top of the rotation guy but for me, the price tag/the upside isn’t there for me if I have my choice of anybody in the draft.

I’m with you. Give me a chance at a Hanley Ramirez/Arod type Shortstop, I’ll take him every day. I’m normally a pitching first guy, but a franchise shortstop is a lot harder to come by than a top of the rotation arm.

SS are a lot easier to develop than a power #1-2. Most teams count on SS as a glove mostly position and bats from the positions anyway.

Just take trade value for instance.. Trade value for a solid (especially power pitching) top of the rotation SP is one of the most coveted items and what a team is built around. SS are found much easier in the latin market also and not trying to sound disrespectful. Boston for instance already has Iglesias and and Vinicio gotten as IFA’s on the market.. 1 is already hitting at A ball as a 19YO with an excellent glove and the other is a superb defensive whiz and is finally hitting as a 22YO in Iglesias at Pawtucket. 1 cost 6m and the other less than 2m.

Point? Many of the best SS have come from that area and it is a virtual haven for SS.. When a potential Ace is available.. You have to take it and your team has the money allotted.

Most guys drafted/signed as SS end up being moved off the position (Miguel Sano and Grant Green come to mind), BUT 3B is an equally hard position to fill.

Also, even if Appel is an elite prospect, there’s no certainty that he’s going to be an “ace,” or that he’s going to stay healthy. Plenty of top 10 pitching prospects turn out to not be aces, or have major injury warts.

It’s arguably smarter to draft position players early, and target pitching in the later rounds, ESPECIALLY when you’re talking a draft rich with HS arms which have super high breakout and super high bust potential. Of course, BPA still factors in, but there weren’t any clear BPAs with the exception of Giolito.

There lies a difference in some GM’s and FO mentality also.. Drafting high upside HS arms with lotto picks.. A high upside college arm has been exposed more and is somewhat more known, but yes.. A HS arm has the less mileage of course and could be more trainable.. There lies the difference in how some teams/personnel go about using a 1st pick.

My “theory” still stands as for a developed #1-2.. Trade or value to a team is far greater than a SS in almost all cases, unless of course it is the very rare Cal Ripken or ARod situation that is 1 in 100k…

Lots of people say Appel profiles as more of a #2-3 pitcher than a true #1, and there were questions about him because his results didn’t really match what scouts saw. There was a real belief out there that he had #1 ‘stuff’ but #3 consistency.

For everyone that said They will regret not taking Appel. They would not of been able to draft Mcullers in the comp round if they had done so. They will probably save a little money with Correa that they can throw at the hard to sign Mcullers now. As Law, Bowden, Reynolds and everyone else is saying, if they can sign both they will have 2 of the top 10-15 players in the draft. I will take that risk over Appel any day.

Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio reports that new GM Jeff Luhnow called the Correa selection a last-minute decision. I think Jim is wrong here. After the Stros picked him, I think they wanted Correa the whole time. Luhnow also made the right decision. He doesn’t need a Boras headache from Boras’s attitude. Also, when the Stanford coach stated that Appel is a better person than he is a pitcher in a pre draft interview… hahaha Appel picking Boras as an agent made that statement hollow to me.

McClullers is a Boras advisee as well, so Lunhow’s going to get some of that headache whether he likes it or not. Fortunately, it seems like he got a good feel for what it would take to sign him prior to the pick – guess we’ll see.

Astros did a great job here. They also picked up McCullers at #41, a guy who was as high as #11 in some mock drafts. Had they taken Appel, they probably wouldn’t have had room in their draft cap for McCullers.

Boras is a great choice if you are a Strasburg or Harper – the type of player that will make a fanbase lynch ownership if they pass him up. He is also a great choice if you are a high risk high reward high school player who wants to use the threat of college to maximize your bonus – and are willing to follow through if the team that drafts you decides to call. He is a terrible choice if you are a Mark Appel – a guy that should probably go number one, but no one is going to lose any sleep if they pass you for any of a half-dozen other guys. The new CBA just happened to compound Appel’s mistake.